Method and apparatus for the manufacture and stretching of a laminate

ABSTRACT

Method and apparatus for the manufacture and stretching of a laminate comprising forming at least two laminates, which are stretched together in superposed relation, from at least four films so as to form a combination of laminates and subsequently peeling said combination to form separate laminates. A laminate prepared in this manner is advantageous in that one of its surfaces has a high smoothness evidenced by high gloss and a high coefficient of friction which makes the laminate particularly suitable for use in the production of high quality sacks.

This invention relates to a method of forming and stretching a laminatecomprising at least two films of a polymeric material to a product whichcan be manufcatured by this method.

The specification of British Pat. No. 1.526.724 describes a method offorming and stretching a laminate comprising at least two films offorming and stretching a laminate comprising at least two films of apolymeric material, said method comprising pressing the films togetheralong lines extending substantially in the longitudinal direction of thefilms and simultaneously stretching the films in the transversedirection, thereby forming a laminate having a configuration oftemporarily substantially evenly distributed substantially longitudinalpleats.

The present invention is an improvement of said method and comprisesforming and stretching at least two such laminates together, one on topof the other, from a total of at least four films, to form a combinationof the laminates, and subsequently peeling said combination to formseparate laminates.

The main advantage of this improved method resides in a surprisingincreased smoothness of the surfaces of the separate laminates which atleast at the beginning of the stretching process are simultaneouslypressed and stretched together and remain in intimate contactessentially during the whole stretching operation, and whichsubsequently are separated from one another. This increased smoothnessis evidenced i.a. by an increased gloss, an increased coefficient offriction when a laminate is contacted with the surface of acorresponding laminate by an improved quality of print and by anincreased heat-sealability and supersonic sealability, and (onexamination in scan-electron microscope) by almost complete lack of amicrotopography of this surface. A more detailed explanation of thebackground for these improved qualities is set forth in the descriptionof the figure at the end of example 1.

The invention presents the additional advantage that the equipmentnecessary for the production of the laminates in question can be usedfar more efficient and requires less man power per weight unit oflaminate produced than the equipment used in the prior art method.

Preferred means to press the films together along longitudinal linesare--as described in the above mentioned patent--mutually intermeshinggrooved rollers, preferably a number of such sets of grooved rollerswith "banana rollers" or similar means between which at least in partthe longitudinal pleats are stretched out. Preferably, the combinedlaminates are also stretched longitudinally.

British patent specification No. 1.526.722 describes the manufacture ofa laminate by a method comprising extruding at least two layers, eachconsisting of a composition of polymers which are incompatible to such adegree that the composition on solidification forms a dispersion ofparticles of one polymer in a polymeric matrix melt, attenuating eachlayer to obtain a fibrillar grain structure having a predominantdirection of splittability after solidification into a film, bonding thetwo layers to one another with the said predominant directionstransverse to one another and biaxially stretching the solidifiedlaminate in substantially uniaxial steps, the stretching being conductedat a temperature sufficiently low to maintain the predominant directionof splittability in each layer.

The present invention is particularly suitable for use in connectionwith this method.

For practical economical reasons the laminates used in the methodaccording to the present invention preferably is a 2-ply sheet materialand each film in the laminate is preferably a coextruded film. It isadvantageous to coextrude at least 3 layers in each film: one surfacelayer (in the following referred to as lamination layer) which providesan adequate bonding between the films in the laminate, another surfacelayer which provides an easy peeling of the combination into separatelaminates, and one or more layers (in the following referred to as mainlayer(s)) in the middle of each film, in which layers the strengthmainly resides. The layer which provides an easy peeling should also beselected with a view to provide the desired surface properties of thelaminates, e.g. frictional properties or easy heat sealing. A moredetailed description of these features will appear from the examples.

British patent specification No. 1.526.722 describes a high-strengthlaminate comprising generally weakly adhered biaxially oriented films,each formed of a polymer composition which exhibits a distinct fibrousmorphology with the fibres forming a distinct unidirectional grain whenmeasured on a macro-scale but with the fibre portions strongly deflectedfrom this direction as seen on a microscale and with the saidunidirectional grain in at least two of the films criss-crossing eachother. a product according to the present invention exhibits thesefeatures and is further characterized in that one surface has linearycorrugations, while the other surface is essentially plan andessentially without any micro-topography.

The presence or absence of micro-topography can best be established bymeans of scan-electron microscopy.

The corrugations are of importance for the tear propagation resistance,stiffness on one direction and stacking properties of sacks made fromthe laminate of the invention, while the plan surface without amicro-topography is highly advantageous, especially for the sealabilityby heat or supersonics, but also for other properties which undercircumstances are desirable. Additional advantages are discussed in thedescription of the drawing and at the end of example 1.

This laminate can be produced by the method described above.

Due to the relatively high amount of material which is introducedbetween the grooved rollers in the method of the invention, deeperstriations (corrugations) may be imparted to the product in its machinedirection than it would otherwise be achieved. Up to a certain extentcorrugations are advantageous, but they should not be excessive. Tosolve this problem of the present invention, the oriented material canadvantageously be subjected to a heat treatment before or after thepeeling process while allowing at least 7% shrinkage in at least itstransverse direction. This heat treatment is based on the discovery thatthe relatively thin zones of the transversely stretched material areoverstretched and that the material in these zones exhibit a pronouncedtendency to contract when heated to a suitable temperature.

Consequently, variations in the thickness of the material tend to bereduced or almost eliminated during such a heat treatment.

It is preferred to effect a shrinkage of at least 12% in the transversedirection.

The heat treatment may be effected in an oven but in practice it ispreferably effected by contacting the material with a heated rollerbecause such a roller has a stabilizing effect on the transversecontraction of the material.

In order to reduce the friction between the material and the heatedroller and thus permit a practically full transverse contraction of thematerial, the heat treatment is advantageously effected by contacting alongitudinally pleated laminate with said heated roller.

The reduction of the width of the material which is effected as a resultof the pleating further facilitates the transverse contraction. Itshould be mentioned that a transverse contraction may take place afterit has left the heated roller but the spontaneous tendency to contractis most pronounced at the start of the heat treatment, i.e. while thematerial is in contact with the heated roller.

For further details regarding this heat treatment, reference is made tomay copending Danish patent application No. 1398/82 filed on Mar. 26,1982.

A particular advantageous main layer for cross-laminates made accordingto the present invention is also described in the above mentionedcopending Danish patent application. Such layer is composed of highmolecular weight high density polyethylene and low density polyethylenehaving a significantly lower molecular weight, said low densitypolyethylene being selected from the group of copolymers and/or branchedpolyethylene which (a) exhibit substantially the same or higherelongation at break than the said high molecular weight high densitypolyethylene when tested at room temperature under slow stretching, (b)are capable of distinctly segregating weight high density polyethyleneon cooling of a molten homogenous blend of the said components.

The term "high molecular weight high density polyethylene" (HMHDPE)comprises HDPE having a melt flow index of about or lower than 0.2according to ASTM D 1238, condition E.

As regards the low density polyethylene, it may advantageously be linearlow density polyethylene (LLDPE).

The blending ratio of HMHDPE to LDPE (preferably LLDPE) may convenientlybe in the range of from about 15:85 to about 75:25.

Further improvements may be obtained when the blend further containspolypropylene of a molecular weight significantly lower than that ofsaid high molecular weight high density polyethylene.

The ratio of polypropylene to the HMHDPE+LDPE in the blaned mayconveniently be in the range of between 0 and 70/30.

The blend may further contain minor amounts of an alloying agent, e.g. acopolymer of propylene and a polyolefin containing 4 or more carbonatoms, or propylene-ethylene rubber.

In connection with a main layer in which the matrix-forming component ofthe blend is polyethylene (for explanation of fibrils and matrix of theblends, see the abovementioned copending Danish application), the layershaving sealing functions (including the two layers which temporarilybind the layers together during the stretching process) advantageouslymainly consists of branched polyethylene and exhibit an elongation atbreak similar to or higher than that of fibril-forming polypropylene orhigh density polyethylene.

The branched polyethylene for the layers which impart durable laminationpreferably is LLDPE, to which there should usually be added up to about50% of an elastomer, such as ethylene-propylene rubber.

The invention further relates to an apparatus for forming and stretchinga laminate comprising at least two films of a polymeric material, saidapparatus comprising means for pressing the films together along linesextending substantially in the longitudinally direction of the films andsimultaneously stretching the films in the transverse direction, therebyforming a laminate having a configuration of temporarily substantiallyevenly distributed substantially longitudinal pleats, said apparatuscomprising means for forming and stretching at least two such laminatestogether, one on top of the other, from a total of at least four films,to form a combination of the laminates, and means for subsequentlypeeling said combination to form separate laminates.

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to thedrawing, which shows a microphoto of a cross-section of a typicalproduct according to the invention, namely the product of example 1. Theaverage thickness is about 75 micron. The photo shows the corrugationson one surface, while the other surface is substantially flat. Whatcannot be seen here but will appear from scan-electron-microscopicalexaminations is the practical absence of a "micro-topography" on thissurface (i.e. microscopical "hills" and/or cavities on the surface).Such eveness is ideal for sealing purposes, especially when the film isused for sealable bags (or similar packaging materials) and the evensurface forms the interior of the bag. The eveness than secures a goodsealing contact also under a relatively low pressure and/or temperature.The flatness and eveness further facilitates removal of dust, e.g. byuse of an air brush.

The corrugations run in the machine direction of the laminate. They areof importance for high tear-propagation resistance, for manufacture ofsacks and easy handling of sacks. Furthermore, when the corrugatedsurface forms the exterior of a sack, the corrugations have proveduseful to reduce the risk of slippage between sacks in a stack, probablybecause dust collects in the furrows instead of acting as lubricant.

EXAMPLE 1

The example relates to the manufacture of a high-strength cross-laminateand illustrates the use of a coextruded film which contains

(1) one surface layer which acts as release layer in the manufacturingprocess, and which at the same time improves the heat-sealing properties(in the following referred to as release/seal layer) and

(2) another surface layer which promotes the bonding (blocking) of theplies of the laminate to each other.

A tubular film is extruded comprising a main layer in the middle, inwhich layer the strength essentially resides, a release/seal layer and alamination layer.

The three layers form 75%, 15% and 10%, respectively, of the total film.The gauge of the extruded film is 70 g/m².

The main layer consists of a blend (intimately pre-blended in aplanetary screw extruder) of 50% high molecular weight high densitypolyethylene (HMHDPE) of the trade name "Hostalen 9255", and 50% linearylow density polyethylene (LLDPE) of melt flow index 1.0 of trade name"Dowlex 2045".

The release/seal layer consists of 100% of the same LLDPE.

The lamination layer consists of 70% of the same LLDPE+30% EPDM of tradename "Nordel 1500".

The extrusion temperature is 240° C. and the blow ratio 1:1. Each of thetubular films is cut helically under an angle of 45° and four suchfilms, each having a width of about 100 cm, are laminated and stretchedwith the surface layers facing one another in the following sequence:

(1) Lamination layer to lamination layer,

(2) release/seal layer to release/seal layer,

(3) lamination layer to lamination layer.

Initially, the lamination and simultaneous transverse stretching areeffected by continuously passing the films five times through the nipbetween a set of grooved rollers of the type shown in British patentspecification No. 1.526.722, FIG. 7. The division on each roller is 1.8mm, the width of each tip is 0.4 mm and the tip is circularly rounded.The intermeshing between the tips is adjusted to produce the finalstretch ratio 1.4:1. The stretching is carried out at 35° C. betweeneach transverse stretching station, the pleats are essentiallyeliminated by means of "banana rollers", but after the last station thepleats are maintained.

Subseqeuntly and still in the continuous process the laminate isstretched longitudinally at the same temperature by means of rollers togive the same longitudinal stretch ratio 1.4:1.

After the longitudinal stretching, the laminate is introduced inpractically tensionless state (tension regulated by means of dancingrollers) into a "free-shrink heat treatment unit" in which they arefirst transversely stretched at 35° C. between a set of grooved rollersas described above, and then immediately, still in a regularly pleatedconfiguration transferred to an 80° C. hot steel roller. From the hotroller the laminate is transferred still in an almost tensionless stateto a water-cooled roller. Finally, it passes through a set of niprollers and is peeled into two half parts, each of which are stronglylaminated (blocked). Prior to this peeling, all 4 films were bondedtogether almost at every spot of the interphases. The peeling iseffected under a low draw tension by means of two sets of nip rollers.Finally, the two 2-ply laminates are wound up on bobbins.

The gauge of the final 2-ply cross-laminate is about 70 g/m².

In order to investigate how safely the 4-ply laminate will delaminateinto two half-parts also in case of production irregularities, holes ofdifferent irregular shape are cut in the film between the lasttransverse stretching station and the longitudinal stretching unit.However, even though the material around the holes are irregularlydeformed by the stretching, the 4-ply laminate is still cleanlyseparated into two half-parts by the peeling process.

The surfaces of the final 2-ply laminates which were in intimate contactduring the stretching operation and which subsequently were separatedfrom one another are in the following called A surfaces, whereas theremaining surfaces of the final laminates are called B surfaces.

A visual examination of these surfaces shows that the A surfaces aremuch more glossy when light beams are directed against said surfaces andthat the static coefficient of friction between two a surfaces which arein mutual contact is about 2.5 times as high as the static coefficientof friction between two B surfaces. (See table below).

This is indicative for surfaces eveness which in turn determines sealingproperties.

Optical microscopic examinations of a cross-section of the final 2-plylaminate are shown in the drawing.

Examinations of the laminates of the invention under an electronicscanning microscope show as mentioned in connection with the descriptionof the drawing that the A surfaces have significantly fewer microscopicirregularities than the B surfaces. It is believed that this is due tothe fact that the material located adjacent to microscopic surfacecavities tends to be overstretched because of the notch effect of saidcavities, whereas microscopically small projections tend to beunderstretched or non-stretched. These differences are significantlyreduced when the surface of one film is in so intimate contact with thesurface of another film during stretching as achieved by stretchingbetween grooved rollers.

Coefficients of static friction:

    ______________________________________                                                         A to A                                                                              B to B                                                 ______________________________________                                        Machine direction  1.2     0.42                                               Transverse direction                                                                             1.2     0.40                                               ______________________________________                                    

Static peel strength in optimized heat-seals, seam in transversedirection:

A to A: 5.5 kg/inch

B to B: 4.8 kg/inch.

It should be observed that the A and B surfaces consist of identicallythe same LLDPE type.

EXAMPLE 2

This example illustrates a similar arrangement of release/seal layersand lamination as that of example 1, however with modified components toachieve a high-strength cross-laminate which i.a. is particularlysuitable for supersonic welding.

The main layer consists of: 50% homo-polypropylene of a melt flow indexof 0.4 according to ASTM D 1238 condition L (trade name: "Holstalen1050"), 20% HMHDPE of a density of about 0.95 and a melt flow index ofabout 0.05 according to ASTM D 1238 condition E (trade name: "Hostalen9255"), 20% LLDPE of a density of 0,920 and a melt flow index of 1.0according to ASTM D 1238 consition E (trade name: "Dowled 2045"), 10%EPDM containing about 20% ethylene and of a melt flow index of about 0.3according to ASTM D 11238 condition E.

In all other respects the composition and procedure is the same as inexample 1. The gauge of the final cross-laminate is about 70 g/m².

EXAMPLE 3

In the above two examples the release layer was plain LLDPE whichcombined the release effect with easier sealing of the final product. Inthis example the laminate is mainly in polypropylene basis, and with thestrong bonding between the main layer and the release/seal layer. Forthis purpose the release/seal layer consists of an ethylene-propylenecopolymer of socalled block type, containing about 20% ethylene andhaving a melt flow index of 0.4 (trade name: "Hostalen 1022").

In all other respects the composition and procedure are as in example 2.

The gauge of the final product is about 70 g/m². It is not sealable bysupersonic welding and not heat-sealable at temperatures below thepractical melting point of the main layers. However, high heat-sealstrength can be achieved of the molten material in the heat seal isallowed to contract in the direction perpendicular to the seam.

EXAMPLE 4

This example illustrates the use of the invention for simultaneousstretching of 4 cross-laminates, one on top of the other, adapted toproduce a final gauge of about 20 g/m² in a low-cost stretching process.

The composition is the same as in example 2, except that both surfacelayers consist of plain LLDPE (the same type as in example (2), thetubular film is extruded in gauge 20 g/m². After the spiral cuttingunder 30° angle, four such films, from four bobbins are brought togetherso that each adjacent pair of films criss-cross each other.

The stretching and heat-treatment is exactly as in example 1. Theseparation of the four 2-ply laminates from each other is started as amanual picking-out of the four correct combination of layers and thencontinued on a machine.

The reason why plain LLDPE has been used also as lamination layer isthat in the case of so thin cross-laminates a higher bonding strengthhas a disadvantageous effect on the tear propagation resistance.

EXAMPLE 5

In example 3 the surface layers of the final 2-ply crosslaminate weremade from an ethylene-paoaylene copolymer containing 20% ethylene.

In order to achieve still better frictional properties it may benecessary to add components which give the layer a high tendency toblock to a similar layer so that the "release effect" is lost. Thisexample shows how the invention can be modified for this purpose.

a tubular film (a) having a composition similar to the tubular filmdescribed in example 3, except that there is added 30% of the EPDM tothe ethylene-propylene copolymer and having a gauge of 70 g/m² isprepared by extrusion.

Another tubular film (b) is extruded from a 4-component coextrusion die.It has the same composition as (a) except that there is coextruded arelease layer, in this case Nylon 6, on top of the polypropylene+EPDMlayer. The gauge of (b) is 77 g/m², of which about 10% is the nylonlayer. It should be noted that the latter bonds very weakly to theadjacent layer of polypropylene+EPDM.

The procedure is continued exactly as in example 3 with the spiral cutfilms (a) and (b) being laminated in the succession (a) (a) (b) (a) andthe nylon layer in (b) being located as the middle layer of the entirelaminate (which comprises a total of 13 layers, so the nylon layer islayer No. 7).

At the end of the procedure, all carried out according to example 3, thenylon layer is stripped off and collected. It should be noted that thenylon used as auxiliary material in the process only constitutes10:4=2.5% of the manufactured cross-laminate, and that the majoritythereof can be recycled.

I claim:
 1. A method of forming and stretching a laminate comprising atleast two films of a polymeric material, said method comprising pressingthe films together, along lines extending substantially in thelongitudinal direction of the films and simultaneously stretching thefilms in the transverse direction, thereby forming a laminate having aconfiguration of temporarily substantially even distributedsubstantially longitudinal pleats, characterized in forming andstretching at least two such laminates together, one on top of theother, from a total of at least four films, to form a composite of thelaminates, and subsequently peeling apart the individual laminates ofsaid composite to form separate laminates.
 2. An apparatus for formingand stretching a laminate comprising at least two films of a polymericmaterial, said apparatus comprising means for pressing the filmstogether along lines extending substantially in the longitudinaldirection of the films and simultaneously stretching the films in thetransverse direction, thereby forming a laminate having a configurationof temporarily substantially evenly distributed substantiallylongitudinal pleats, characterized in that said means are adapted toform and stretch at least two such laminates together, one on top of theother, from a total of at least four films, to form a composite of thelaminates, and means for subsequently peeling apart the individuallaminates of said composite to form separate laminates.